Display apparatus

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus includes a substrate including a first area, a second area, and a bending area between the first area and the second area, a plurality of pixels disposed in the first area, a protection film disposed under the substrate, a dummy film disposed under the protection film, and an opening in the protection film, wherein the opening overlaps the bending area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/037,856 filed on Sep. 30, 2020, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/217,341 filed onDec. 12, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,811,623 issued on Oct. 20, 2020,which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2017-0183055, filed on Dec. 28, 2017, the disclosures of whichare incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The inventive concept relates to a display apparatus, and moreparticularly, to a display apparatus having a strong bending area in itsdisplay panel.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In recent years, display apparatuses having a flexible display panelhave been developed. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels todisplay an image and a driving chip to drive the pixels. The pixels aredisposed in a display area of the display panel, and the driving chip isdisposed in a non-display area of the display panel. For example, thenon-display area may surround the display area. A bending area isprovided between the driving chip and the display area, such that whenthe bending area is bent, the driving chip can be disposed under thedisplay panel.

A protection film is disposed under the display panel to protect a lowerportion of the display panel. A portion of the protection filmoverlapping the bending area may be removed to reduce a thickness of thebending area. As a result, the bending area can be more easily bent.However, when the protection film is not disposed in the bending area,the bending area is vulnerable to an external impact.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept provide a displayapparatus including a substrate including a first area, a second area,and a bending area between the first area and the second area, aplurality of pixels disposed in the first area, a protection filmdisposed under the substrate, a dummy film disposed under the protectionfilm, and an opening in the protection film, wherein the openingoverlaps the bending area.

The protection film has the same thickness as the dummy film.

A thickness of each of the protection film and the dummy film rangesfrom about 20 micrometers (μm) to about 50 micrometers (μm).

The substrate has a thickness smaller than a thickness of each of theprotection film and the dummy film.

The protection film and the dummy film include the same material, andeach of the substrate, the protection film, and the dummy film isflexible.

The second area is disposed under the first area when the bending areais bent.

The first area includes a display area in which the pixels are disposedand a non-display area adjacent to the display area.

The display apparatus further includes: a thin film encapsulation layerdisposed in the display area and a portion of the non-display area tocover the pixels; a touch sensing unit disposed on the thin filmencapsulation layer; and a window disposed on the touch sensing unit.

The display apparatus further includes: a scan driver disposed in thenon-display area and connected to the pixels through a plurality of scanlines; an emission driver disposed in the non-display area and connectedto the pixels through a plurality of emission lines; and a data driverdisposed in the second area and connected to the pixels through aplurality of data lines.

The bending area extends in a first direction, and the first area, thesecond area, and the bending area are arranged in a second directioncrossing the first direction.

The display apparatus further includes a plurality of support unitsdisposed on a portion of the dummy film overlapping the opening.

Each of the support units has a thickness smaller than a thickness ofthe protection film.

The support units are disposed on the dummy film in a single layer andcontact each other.

The support units are disposed on the dummy film in a single layer andare spaced apart from each other.

The display apparatus further includes a plurality of support unitsdisposed under a portion of the dummy film overlapping the opening.

The display apparatus further includes a support member disposed under aportion of the dummy film overlapping the opening.

A plurality of slits is provided in an upper surface of the supportmember, and a lower surface of the support member has a convex curvedsurface projected away from the upper surface of the support member.

The display apparatus further includes a sub-protection film disposedunder the dummy film, a sub-dummy film disposed under the sub-protectionfilm, and a sub-opening in the sub-protection film, wherein thesub-opening overlaps the bending area.

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept provide a displayapparatus including a substrate including a first area, a second area,and a bending area between the first area and the second area, aplurality of pixels disposed in the first area, a protection filmdisposed under the substrate, a dummy film disposed under the protectionfilm, and a plurality of first sub-openings in the protection film,wherein the first sub-openings overlap the bending area.

The bending area and the first sub-openings extend in a first direction,and the first area, the second area, and the bending area are arrangedin a second direction crossing the first direction.

The display apparatus further includes: a sub-protection film disposedunder the dummy film; a sub-dummy film disposed under the sub-protectionfilm; and a plurality of second sub-openings in the sub-protection film,wherein the second sub-openings overlap the bending area.

The second sub-openings overlap with the first sub-openings.

The second sub-openings do not overlap with the first sub-openings.

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept provide a displayapparatus including a substrate including a first area, a second area,and a bending area between the first area and the second area, aplurality of pixels disposed in the first area, a protection filmdisposed under the substrate and including an opening that overlaps thebending area, and a plurality of dummy films disposed under a portion ofthe substrate overlapping the opening.

A total thickness of the dummy films is less than a thickness of theprotection film.

The protection film has a thickness of about 100 micrometers (μm), andeach of the dummy films has a thickness ranging from about 20 (pn)micrometers to about 30 micrometers (μm).

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept provide a displayapparatus including: a substrate including a display area, a non-displayarea and a bending area; a pixel layer disposed on a first side of thesubstrate in the display area; a protection film disposed on a secondside of the substrate, the protection film including an opening in thebending area; and a dummy film disposed on the protection film.

The display apparatus further includes: a thin film encapsulation layerdisposed on the pixel layer; a touch sensing unit disposed on the thinfilm encapsulation layer; and a window disposed on the touch sensingunit.

The display apparatus further includes a data driver disposed on thefirst side of the substrate in the non-display area.

The data driver may be disposed under the window when the bending areais bent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a display apparatus according to anexemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a pixel illustrated inFIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the pixel illustrated in FIG. 2, according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ illustrated inFIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a bending state of a bending area illustratedin FIG. 4 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventiveconcept; and

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are views showingconfigurations of bending areas of display apparatuses according toexemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will beexplained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.However, the inventive concept may be embodied in many different forms,and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments setforth herein. Like numbers may refer to like elements throughout thespecification.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present.

Embodiments of the inventive concept in this disclosure are describedwith reference to plan views and cross-sectional views that are idealschematic diagrams. Accordingly, shapes of the views may vary dependingon manufacturing technologies and/or tolerances. Thus, the embodimentsare not limited to shown specific forms and also include variations inform produced according to manufacturing processes.

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a display apparatus 100 according toan exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the display apparatus 100 according to the presentembodiment may include a display panel DP, a scan driver SD, a datadriver DD, and an emission driver ED. The display panel DP may be anorganic light emitting display panel, but the inventive concept is notlimited thereto. For example, various display panels such as a liquidcrystal display panel, an electrowetting display panel, and anelectrophoretic display panel may be used as the display panel DP.

The display panel DP may be a flexible display panel. For example, thedisplay panel DP may include a substrate formed of a plastic materialhaving flexibility and a plurality of electronic elements disposed onthe substrate. The display panel DP may have a rectangular shape whichhas short sides parallel to a first direction DR1 and long sidesparallel to a second direction DR2 crossing the first direction DR1. Thesecond direction DR2 may be substantially perpendicular to the firstdirection DR1.

The scan driver SD, the data driver DD, and the emission driver ED maybe referred to as a driving part to drive the display panel DP. The scandriver SD, the data driver DD and the emission driver ED may providedriving signals to the display panel DP to drive the display panel DP.The display panel DP may generate an image in response to the drivingsignals.

The display panel DP may have a flat surface (or a plane) parallel to aplane defined by the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2.The flat surface of the display panel DP may include a first area A1, asecond area A2, and a bending area BA between the first area A1 and thesecond area A2. The bending area BA may extend in the first directionDR1, and the first area A1, the bending area BA, and the second area A2may be arranged in the second direction DR2.

The first area A1 may include a display area DA and a non-display areaNDA surrounding the display area DA. In an alternative embodiment, thenon-display area NDA may only be disposed on one, two or three sides ofthe display area DA, and may not completely surround the display areaDA. The display area DA corresponds to an area in which an image isdisplayed and the non-display area NDA corresponds to an area in whichno image is displayed. The second area A2 and the bending area BAcorrespond areas in which no image is displayed. An area which does notdisplay the image may be a “bezel area”.

The display panel DP may include a plurality of pixels PX, a pluralityof scan lines SL1 to SLm, a plurality of data lines DL1 to DLn, and aplurality of emission lines EL1 to ELm. Each of “m” and “n” is a naturalnumber. For the convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows one pixel PX.The pixels PX may be arranged in a matrix form in the display area DAand may be connected to the scan lines SL1 to SLm, the data lines DL1 toDLn, and the emission lines EL1 to ELm.

The scan driver SD and the emission driver ED may be disposed in thenon-display area NDA and face each other with the display area DAdisposed therebetween. The data driver DD may be disposed in the secondarea A2, and the scan driver SD and the emission driver ED may bedisposed in the first area A1. The scan driver SD may be disposed in thenon-display area NDA adjacent to one side of the display panel DP. Forexample, the scan driver SD may be adjacent to a first long side of thedisplay panel DP. The emission driver ED may be disposed in thenon-display area NDA adjacent to a second long side of the display panelDP opposite to the first long side of the display panel DP. The datadriver DD may be an integrated circuit chip and may be mounted on thesecond area A2.

The scan lines SL1 to SLm may extend in the first direction DR1 and maybe connected to the scan driver SD. The scan lines SL1 to SLm mayreceive a plurality of scan signals from the scan driver SD. The datalines DL1 to DLn may extend in the second direction DR2 and may beconnected to the data driver DD. The data lines DL to DLn may receive aplurality of data voltages from the data driver DD. The emission linesEL1 to ELm may extend in the first direction DR1 and may be connected tothe emission driver ED. The emission lines EL1 to ELm may receive aplurality of emission signals from the emission driver ED.

The scan driver SD may generate the scan signals, and the scan signalsmay be applied to the pixels PX through the scan lines SL1 to SLm. Thescan signals may be applied sequentially to the pixels PX. The datadriver DD may generate the data voltages, and the data voltages may beapplied to the pixels PX through the data lines DL1 to DLn. The emissiondriver ED may generate the emission signals, and the emission signalsmay be applied to the pixels PX through the emission lines EL1 to ELm.

The display apparatus 100 may include a timing controller to controloperations of the scan driver SD, the data driver DD, and the emissiondriver ED. The timing controller may generate a scan control signal, adata control signal, and an emission control signal in response tocontrol signals provided from an external source. For example, thecontrol signals may be provided from a host device. Additionally, thetiming controller may receive image signals from the external source andmay convert a data format of the image signals to a data formatappropriate to an interface between the data driver DD and the timingcontroller. For example, the image signals may be provided from the hostdevice. The timing controller may provide the image signals having theconverted data format to the data driver DD.

The scan driver SD may generate the scan signals in response to the scancontrol signal, and the emission driver ED may generate the emissionsignals in response to the emission control signal. The data driver DDmay receive the image signals having the converted data format and maygenerate the data voltages corresponding to the image signals having theconverted data format in response to the data control signal.

The pixels PX may receive the data voltages in response to the scansignals. The pixels PX may emit light having brightness corresponding tothe data voltages in response to the emission signals. Therefore, animage may be displayed. A light emitting time of the pixels PX may becontrolled by the emission signals.

An opening portion OP1 may be provided in a lower portion of the displaypanel DP in the bending area BA. For example, the bending area BA may bebent to allow the second area A2 to be disposed under the first area A1.The opening portion OP1 and the bending structure of the bending area BAwill be described in more detail below.

FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing the pixel PX illustratedin FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventiveconcept.

FIG. 2 shows only one pixel PX, however, the other pixels PX disposed inthe display panel DP may have the same configuration as that of thepixel PX illustrated in FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the pixel PX may be connected to a correspondingscan line SLi of the scan lines SL1 to SLm, a corresponding data lineDLj of the data lines DL1 to DLn, and a corresponding emission line ELiof the emission lines EL1 to ELm. “i” is a natural number equal to orless than “m”, and “j” is a natural number equal to or less than “n”.The pixel PX may include an organic light emitting element OLED, adriving transistor T1, a capacitive element Cst, a switching transistorT2, and an emission control transistor T3. The organic light emittingelement OLED may be, for example, an organic light emitting diode. Thecapacitive element Cst may be, for example, a storage capacitor.

A source terminal of the driving transistor T1 may be applied with afirst voltage ELVDD, and a drain terminal of the driving transistor T1may be connected to a source terminal of the emission control transistorT3. A gate terminal of the driving transistor T1 may be connected to adrain terminal of the switching transistor T2.

A gate terminal of the switching transistor T2 may be connected to thescan line SLi, and a source terminal of the switching transistor T2 maybe connected to the data line DLj. A first electrode of the capacitiveelement Cst may be connected to the source terminal of the drivingtransistor T1, and a second electrode of the capacitive element Cst maybe connected to the gate terminal of the driving transistor T1. Thesecond electrode of capacitive element Cst may also be connected to thedrain of the switching transistor T2.

A gate terminal of the emission control transistor T3 may be connectedto the emission line ELi, and a drain terminal of the emission controltransistor T3 may be connected to an anode of the organic light emittingelement OLED. A cathode of the organic light emitting element OLED maybe applied with a second voltage ELVSS. A level of the second voltageELVSS may be lower than a level of the first voltage ELVDD.

The switching transistor T2 may be turned on in response to a scansignal SCAN provided through the scan line SLi. The turned-on switchingtransistor T2 may provide a data voltage DATA, which is provided throughthe data line DLj, to the gate terminal of the driving transistor T1.The capacitive element Cst may be charged with the data voltage DATAapplied to the gate terminal of the driving transistor T1 and maymaintain the charged data voltage DATA after the switching transistor T2is turned off.

The gate terminal of the emission control transistor T3 may receive anemission signal EM through the emission line ELi, and the emissioncontrol transistor T3 may be turned on in response to the emissionsignal EM. The turned-on emission control transistor T3 may provide acurrent Ioled, which flows through the driving transistor T1, to theorganic light emitting element OLED. The pixel PX may emit light whilethe emission signal EM is applied to the emission control transistor T3.An intensity of the light emitted from the organic light emittingelement OLED may be changed depending on the amount of the currentIoled.

In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, the transistors T1,T2 and T3 of the pixel PX are PMOS transistors, but they are not belimited thereto. For example, the transistors T1, T2 and T3 of the pixelPX may be NMOS transistors.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the pixel PX illustrated inFIG. 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the pixel PX may include an organic light emittingelement OLED and a transistor TR connected to the organic light emittingelement OLED. The transistor TR may be the emission control transistorT3. The transistor TR and the organic light emitting element OLED may bedisposed on a substrate SUB. A layer including the transistor TR and theorganic light emitting element OLED may be a pixel layer PXL.

The substrate SUB may include a transparent flexible substrate made of aplastic having flexibility. For example, the substrate SUB may include apolyimide (PI) as the plastic having flexibility. A buffer layer BFL maybe disposed on the substrate SUB and may include an inorganic material.

A protection film PF1 having flexibility may be disposed under thesubstrate SUB. A dummy film DF1 having flexibility may be disposed underthe protection film PF1. The protection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1may include the same material.

Each of the protection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1 may include apolyimide (PI) or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a plastic havingthe flexibility. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto,and the protection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1 may include materialsdifferent from each other as long as the protection film PF1 and thedummy film DF1 have flexibility.

A semiconductor layer SM of the transistor TR may be disposed on thebuffer layer BFL. The semiconductor layer SM may include an inorganicsemiconductor such as amorphous silicon or poly-silicon or may includean organic semiconductor. Alternatively, the semiconductor layer SM mayinclude an oxide semiconductor. The semiconductor layer SM may include asource region, a drain region, and a channel region between the sourceregion and the drain region.

A first insulating layer INS1 may be disposed on the buffer layer BFL tocover the semiconductor layer SM. The first insulating layer INS1 mayinclude an inorganic material. A gate electrode GE of the transistor TRmay be disposed on the first insulating layer INS1 and may overlap withthe semiconductor layer SM. The gate electrode GE may overlap with thechannel region of the semiconductor layer SM.

A second insulating layer INS2 may be disposed on the first insulatinglayer INS1 to cover the gate electrode GE. The second insulating layerINS2 may be an interlayer insulating layer. The second insulating layerINS2 may include an organic material and/or an inorganic material.

A source electrode SE and a drain electrode DE of the transistor TR maybe spaced apart from each other and may be disposed on the secondinsulating layer INS2. The source electrode SE may be connected to thesource region of the semiconductor layer SM through a first contact holeCH1 provided through the first and second insulating layers INS1 andINS2. The drain electrode DE may be connected to the drain region of thesemiconductor layer SM through a second contact hole CH2 providedthrough the first and second insulating layers INS1 and INS2.

A third insulating layer INS3 may be disposed on the second insulatinglayer INS2 and cover the source electrode SE and the drain electrode DEof the transistor TR. The third insulating layer INS3 may be aplanarization layer and provide a flat upper surface. The thirdinsulating layer INS3 may include an organic material.

A first electrode E1 of the organic light emitting element OLED may bedisposed on the third insulating layer INS3. The first electrode E1 maybe connected to the drain electrode DE of the transistor TR through athird contact hole CH3 provided through the third insulating layer INS3.The first electrode E1 may be a pixel electrode or an anode electrode.The first electrode E1 may include a transparent electrode or areflective electrode.

A pixel defining layer PDL may be disposed on the first electrode E1 andthe third insulating layer INS3 to expose a portion of the firstelectrode E1. A pixel opening portion PX_OP may be provided in the pixeldefining layer PDL to expose the portion of the first electrode E1. Anarea in which the pixel opening portion PX_OP is provided may be a“pixel area PA”. A periphery of the pixel area PA may be a “non-pixelarea NPA”. For example, the non-pixel area NPA may be disposed atopposite sides of the pixel area PA.

An organic light emitting layer OEL may be disposed on the firstelectrode E1 in the pixel opening portion PX_OP. The organic lightemitting layer OEL may include an organic material capable of generatinga light having one of a red color, a green color, and a blue color.Therefore, the organic light emitting layer OEL may generate one of red,green, and blue lights. However, the inventive concept not be limitedthereto, and the organic light emitting layer OEL may generate a whitelight by a combination of organic materials respectively generating redlight, green light, and blue light.

The organic light emitting layer OEL may include a low-molecular organicmaterial or a high-molecular organic material. The organic lightemitting layer OEL may be formed of a multi-layer structure of a holeinjection layer (HIL), a hole transporting layer (HTL), a light emittinglayer (EML), an electron transporting layer (ETL), and an electroninjection layer (EIL). The hole injection layer may be disposed on thefirst electrode E1. The hole transporting layer (HTL), the lightemitting layer (EML), the electron transporting layer (ETL), and theelectron injection layer (EIL) may be sequentially stacked on the holeinjection layer (HIL).

A second electrode E2 of the organic light emitting element OLED may bedisposed on the pixel defining layer PDL and the organic light emittinglayer OEL. The second electrode E2 may be a common electrode or acathode electrode. The second electrode E2 may include a transparentelectrode or a reflective electrode.

When the display panel DP is a front emission type organic lightemitting display panel, the first electrode E1 may be the reflectiveelectrode and the second electrode E2 may be the transparent electrode.When the display panel DP is a rear emission type organic light emittingdisplay panel, the first electrode E1 may be the transparent electrodeand the second electrode E2 may be the reflective electrode.

The organic light emitting element OLED may be disposed in the pixelarea PA and may include the first electrode E1, the organic lightemitting layer OEL, and the second electrode E2 in the pixel area PA.The first electrode E1 may be an anode to inject holes, and the secondelectrode E2 may be a cathode to inject electrons. The pixel defininglayer PDL and elements disposed thereunder may be provided in thenon-pixel area NPA.

A thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the organic lightemitting element OLED to cover the pixel PX. For example, the thin filmencapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the second electrode E2. Thethin film encapsulation layer TFE may include an organic material and/oran inorganic material.

The first voltage ELVDD may be applied to the first electrode E1 throughthe transistor TR. Holes and electrons injected in the organic lightemitting layer OEL may be combined with each other to generate excitons(e.g., electron-hole pairs), and the excitons may transition from anexcited state to a ground state to emit a light from the organic lightemitting element OLED. The organic light emitting element OLED may emitone of the red, green, and blue lights according to a flow of a current,and thus, image information may be displayed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line I-I′ illustrated inFIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept.FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a bending state of a bendingarea illustrated in FIG. 4 , according to an exemplary embodiment of theinventive concept.

For the convenience of explanation, the buffer layer BFL disposed on thesubstrate SUB is omitted in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 .

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 , the display panel DP may include thesubstrate SUB, the pixel layer PXL, the thin film encapsulation layerTFE, the protection film PF1, and the dummy film DF1. The substrate SUBmay include the first area A1, the second area A2, and the bending areaBA like the display panel DP shown in FIG. 1 .

The pixel layer PX L may be disposed on the substrate SUB of the displayarea DA, and the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposed onthe substrate SUB to cover the pixel layer PXL. The thin filmencapsulation layer TFE may be disposed on the pixel layer PXL in thedisplay area DA. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be disposedon the substrate SUB in a portion of the non-display NDA adjacent to thedisplay area DA. For example, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE isdisposed on an upper surface of the pixel layer PXL in the display areaDA, and a side surface of the pixel layer PXL in the non-display areaNDA. The data driver DD may be disposed on the substrate SUB in thesecond area A2.

The display apparatus 100 may include a touch sensing unit TS disposedon the thin film encapsulation layer TFE and a window WIN disposed onthe touch sensing unit TS. The touch sensing unit TS may sense anexternal input (e.g., a finger of a user or a touch pen), may convertthe sensed input into an input signal, and may provide the input signalto the display panel DP. The touch sensing unit TS may sense theexternal input in a capacitive manner. The display panel DP may receivethe input signal from the touch sensing unit TS and may generate animage corresponding to the input signal. In other words, the displayapparatus 100 may include a capacitive touch screen.

The image generated by the display panel DP may be provided to the userafter sequentially passing through the touch sensing unit TS and thewindow WIN. The window WIN may be an upper surface of the displayapparatus 100 and may protect the display panel DP and the touch sensingunit TS from an external force.

The protection film PF1 may be disposed under the substrate SUB, and thedummy film DF1 may be disposed under the protection film PF1. Theprotection film PF1 may have the same thickness as that of the dummyfilm DF1. In an exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept, thethickness of each of the protection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1 mayrange from about 20 micrometers (μm) to about 50 micrometers (μm).However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto, and theprotection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1 may have differentthicknesses from each other. The substrate SUB may have a thickness lessthan that of each of the protection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1. Forinstance, the substrate SUB may have a thickness of about 10 micrometers(μm).

A direction that is substantially perpendicular to a flat surfacedefined by the first and second directions DR1 and DR2 may be a “thirddirection DR3”. The thickness of each of the substrate SUB, theprotection film PF1, and the dummy film DF1 may correspond to a distancebetween an upper surface and a lower surface of each of the substrateSUB, the protection film PF1, and the dummy film DF1 in the thirddirection DR3. For example, the thickness of the substrate SUB may be adistance between its upper and lower surfaces in the third directionDR3.

The opening portion OP may be provided in a portion of the protectionfilm PF1 overlapping the bending area BA. The opening portion OP1 mayextend in the first direction DR1 in the bending area BA. The protectionfilm PF1 overlapping the bending area BA may be removed to form theopening portion OP1. In other words, the protection film PF1 is notdisposed in the opening portion OP1.

The dummy film DF1 may be disposed under the protection film PF1 tocover the opening portion OP1. The dummy film DF1 may extend from thefirst area A1 to the bending area BA to the second area A2. Since thedummy film DF1, which has a flat shape, is disposed under the openingportion OP1, a lower portion of the opening portion OP1 may be closed.In other words, the lower portion of the opening portion OP1 may becovered by the dummy film DF1. However, both ends of the opening portionOP1 in the first direction DR1 may be opened.

Since each of the substrate SUB, the protection film PF1, and the dummyfilm DF1 are flexible, the bending area BA may be easily bent as shownin FIG. 5 . Since the substrate SUB and the dummy film DF1 are bent inthe bending area BA, the second area A2 may be disposed under the firstarea A1. Therefore, the data driver DD may be disposed under the firstarea A1.

Since the bending area BA is bent to allow the second area A2 to bedisposed under the substrate SUB of the first area A1, the second areaA2, which is the bezel area, may not be exposed to an outside when thedisplay apparatus 100 is viewed from above the display apparatus 100.Therefore, the bezel area may be reduced.

In a case that the dummy film DF1 is not disposed in the displayapparatus 100, a groove may be provided in the bending area BA when theportion of the protection film PF1 overlapping the bending area BA isremoved. In this case, only the substrate SUB is disposed in the bendingarea BA, and the substrate SUB can be bent to allow the second area A2to be disposed under the first area A1. Since only the substrate SUB isdisposed in the bending area BA, the substrate SUB of the bending areaBA may be damaged by an external impact.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, the dummy film DF1 may bedisposed under the protection film PF1 in the opening portion OP1 in thebending area BA. Since the substrate SUB and the dummy film DF1 aredisposed in the bending area BA, the bending area BA may bestrengthened. Therefore, a resistance of the bending area BA to anexternal impact may increase. Additionally, the external impact appliedto the bending area BA may be absorbed by the opening portion OP1 in thebending area BA.

Consequently, the display apparatus 100 according to the presentembodiment has a structure that strengthens the bending area BA andabsorbs external impacts applied to the bending area BA, therebypreventing the bending area BA from being damaged.

FIGS. 6 to 16 are views showing configurations of bending areas ofdisplay apparatuses according to various exemplary embodiments of theinventive concept.

Each of the display apparatuses according to the various exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concept may have the same configuration asthat of the display apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 except for theirbending areas BA. Accordingly, differences between the bending areas BAshown in FIGS. 6 to 16 from those of the bending area BA shown in FIG. 4will be mainly described.

For convenience of explanation, in FIGS. 6 to 16 , the bending areas BAare enlarged, and the second area A2 and a portion of the first area A1adjacent to each of the bending areas BA are illustrated. FIG. 7 is aplan view showing support units SU1 illustrated in FIG. 6 , according toan exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. For convenience ofexplanation, only the protection film PF1 and the support units SU1disposed on the dummy film DF1 are illustrated in FIG. 7 .

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 , the opening portion OP1 may be locatedin the portion of the protection film PF1 overlapping the bending areaBA, and the plurality of support units SU1 may be disposed on a portionof the dummy film DF1 overlapping the opening portion OP1. The supportunits SU1 may extend in the first direction DR1 and may be arranged inthe second direction DR2. The support units SU1 may extend across theentirety of the bending area BA or a portion of the bending area BA.

The support units SU1 may be disposed on the dummy film DF1 as a singlelayer in the opening portion OP1 and may contact each other. Each of thesupport units SU1 may have a thickness smaller than that of theprotection film PF1. Therefore, a space may be provided in the openingportion OP1 on and/or around the support units SU1.

Since the support units SU1 are disposed in the bending area BA, thebending area BA may be further strengthened. Therefore, the bending areaBA may be further prevented from being damaged due to an externalimpact.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the opening portion OP1 may be located in thebending area BA, and a plurality of support units SU2 may be disposed ona portion of the dummy film DF1 overlapping the opening portion OP.Unlike the support units SU1 shown in FIG. 6 , the support units SU2shown in FIG. 8 may be spaced apart from each other.

The support units SU2 may extend in the first direction DR1 and may bearranged in the second direction DR2 like the support units SU1 shown inFIG. 7 . The support units SU2 may be disposed as a single layer, andeach of the support units SU2 may have a thickness smaller than that ofthe protection film PF1. Since the support units SU2 are disposed in thebending area BA, the bending area BA may be further strengthened.Therefore, the bending area BA may be further prevented from beingdamaged due to an external impact.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a plurality of support units SU3 may be disposedunder a portion of the dummy film DF1 overlapping the opening portionOP1 of the bending area BA. The support units SU3 shown in FIG. 9 mayhave the same structure as that of the support units SU1 shown in FIG. 6. Since the support units SU3 are disposed in the bending area BA, thebending area BA may be further strengthened. Therefore, the bending areaBA may be further prevented from being damaged due to an externalimpact.

Referring to FIG. 10 , a plurality of support units SU4 may be disposedunder a portion of the dummy film DF1 overlapping the opening portionOP1 of the bending area BA. The support units SU4 shown in FIG. 10 mayhave the same structure as that of the support units SU2 shown in FIG. 8except for their location. Since the support units SU4 are disposed inthe bending area BA, the bending area BA may be further strengthened.Therefore, the bending area BA may be further prevented from beingdamaged due to an external impact.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a support member SPM may be disposed under aportion of the dummy film DF1 overlapping the opening portion OP1 of thebending area BA. An upper surface of the support member SPM may have aflat shape. In other words, the surface of the support member SPMcontacting the dummy film DF1 may be flat. A lower surface of thesupport member SPM, which is opposite to the upper surface of thesupport member SPM, may have a convex curved surface. For example, theconvex curved surface of support member SPM may be projected downwardaway from the upper surface of the support member SPM. Since the supportmember SPM is disposed in the bending area BA, the bending area BA maybe further strengthened. Therefore, the bending area BA may be furtherprevented from being damaged due to an external impact.

A plurality of slits SLT may be formed in the upper surface of thesupport member SPM. The slits SLT may be formed by half cutting thesupport member SPM. When the slits SLT are not provided in the supportmember SPM, the bending of the support member SPM may not be as easilyperformed. This is so, because the slits SLT can relieve a stress thatmay be generated in the support member SPM when the bending area BA isbent.

For example, when the bending area BA is bent to allow the second areaA2 to be disposed under the first area A1, the slits SLT of the supportmember SPM may be slightly opened. Therefore, the bending of the supportmember SPM may be more easily performed.

Referring to FIG. 12 , the dummy film DF1 may be disposed under theprotection film PF1, and the opening portion OP1 may be located in theportion of the protection film PF1 overlapping the bending area BA. Asub-protection film PF2 may be disposed under the dummy film DF1, and asub-dummy film DF2 may be disposed under the sub protection film PF2.

A sub-opening portion OP2 may be located in a portion of thesub-protection film PF2 overlapping the bending area BA. The sub-openingportion OP2 may extend in the first direction DR1. The sub-protectionfilm PF2 overlapping the bending area BA may be removed to form thesub-opening portion OP2 in the bending area BA.

The sub-dummy film DF2 may be disposed under the sub-protection film PF2to cover the sub-opening portion OP2. The sub-opening portion OP2 mayhave the same shape as that of the opening portion OP1. Thesub-protection film PF2 may include the same material as the protectionfilm PF1 and the sub-dummy film DF2 may include the same material as thedummy film DF1. The protection film PF1, the dummy film DF1, thesub-protection film PF2, and the sub-dummy film DF2 may be flexible. Theprotection film PF1, the dummy film DF1, the sub-protection film PF2,and the sub-dummy film DF2 may have the same thickness.

Since the sub-dummy film DF2 is disposed in the bending area BA and thesub-opening portion OP2 is located in the bending area BA, the bendingarea BA may be further strengthened. For example, an external impactapplied to the bending area BA may be further absorbed, and thus, thebending area BA may be prevented from being damaged due to the externalimpact.

Referring to FIG. 13 , the protection film PF1 may be disposed under thesubstrate SUB, and the dummy film DF may be disposed under theprotection film PF1. A plurality of first sub-opening portions SOP1 maybe located between predetermined portions of the protection film PF1overlapping the bending area BA.

The protection film PF1 overlapping the bending area BA may be removedfrom a plurality of areas in the bending area BA to form the firstsub-opening portions SOP1. The first sub-opening portions SOP1 mayextend in the first direction DR1. The bending area BA shown in FIG. 13may have the same structure as that of the bending area BA shown in FIG.4 except that the first sub-opening portions SOP1 are provided in thebending area BA.

Referring to FIG. 14 , the protection film PF1 and the dummy film DF1may be disposed under the substrate SUB, and the plurality of firstsub-opening portions SOP1 may be located between predetermined portionsof the protection film PF1 overlapping the bending area BA as shown inFIG. 13 .

The sub-protection film PF2 may be disposed under the dummy film DF1,and the sub-dummy film DF2 may be disposed under the sub-protection filmPF2. A plurality of second sub-opening portions SOP2 may be locatedbetween predetermined portions of the sub-protection film PF2overlapping the bending area BA in the sub protection film PF2.

The sub-protection film PF2 overlapping the bending area BA may beremoved from a plurality of areas in the bending area BA to form thesecond sub-opening portions SOP2. The second sub-opening portions SOP2may extend in the first direction DR1 and may overlap with the firstsub-opening portions SOP1. For example, the first sub-opening portionsSOP1 and the second sub-opening portions SOP2 may coincide with eachother in the third direction DR3.

The bending area BA shown in FIG. 14 may have the same structure as thatof the bending area BA shown in FIG. 12 except that the first and secondsub-opening portions SOP1 and SOP2 are provided in the bending area BA.

Referring to FIG. 15 , the protection film PF1, the dummy film DF1, thesub-protection film PF2, and the sub-dummy film DF2 may be sequentiallydisposed under the substrate SUB. The plurality of first sub-openingportions SOP may be formed in predetermined areas between the protectionfilm PF1 overlapping the bending area BA, and the plurality of secondsub-opening portions SOP2 may be formed in predetermined areas betweenthe sub-protection film PF2 overlapping the bending area BA. The secondsub-opening portions SOP2 may not overlap with the first sub-openingportions SOP1. In other words, the second sub-opening portions SOP2 maynot coincide with the first sub-opening portions SOP1 in the thirddirection.

The bending area BA shown in FIG. 15 may have the same structure as thatof the bending area BA shown in FIG. 14 except that the first and secondsub-opening portions SOP1 and SOP2 do not overlap with each other.

Referring to FIG. 16 , a protection film PF may be disposed under thesubstrate SUB. The protection film PF may have flexibility, and theprotection film PF may have a thickness of about 100 micrometers (μm).An opening portion OP may be provided in a portion of the protectionfilm PF overlapping the bending area BA. The protection film PFoverlapping the bending area BA may be removed to form the openingportion OP.

A plurality of dummy films DF may be disposed under a portion of thesubstrate SUB overlapping the opening portion OP. A total thickness ofthe dummy films DF, which is a sum of thicknesses of all the dummy filmsDF, may be smaller than a thickness of the protection film PF. Thethickness of each of the dummy films DF may range from about 20 (μm)micrometers to about 30 micrometers (μm). FIG. 16 shows three dummyfilms DF as a representative example, however, the number of the dummyfilms DF is not limited thereto as long as the total thickness of thedummy films DF is smaller than the thickness of the protection film PF.

Each of the dummy films DF may be flexible and may include the samematerial as the protection film PF. However, the inventive concept isnot limited thereto, and the dummy films DF may include differentmaterial from the protection film PF.

Since the total thickness of the dummy films DF is smaller than that ofthe protection film PF, a groove G′ may be formed in the bending areaBA. In addition, the thickness of the bending area BA is smaller thanits periphery. Therefore, the bending area BA may be easily bent.Further, when the dummy films DF are disposed in the bending area BA,the bending area BA may be strengthened, and as a result, a resistanceof the bending area BA to an external impact may increase.

Although the inventive concept has been shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is understood by one ofordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail can bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinventive concept as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus, comprising: a substratecomprising a first area, a second area, and a folding area between thefirst area and the second area; a first protection member disposed underthe substrate and having a plurality of first openings overlapping thefolding area; a second protection member disposed under the firstprotection member and having at least one second opening overlapping thefolding area; a cover member disposed between the first protectionmember and the second protection member and covering the plurality offirst openings, wherein the first openings are sealed by the substrateand the cover member.
 2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefirst protection member has a different thickness than the cover member.3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first protection memberhas a larger thickness than the cover member.
 4. The display apparatusof claim 1, wherein the substrate has a thickness smaller than athickness of the first protection member.
 5. The display apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein each of the substrate, the first protection member, andthe cover member is flexible, and the substrate and the cover member arefolded and unfolded in the folding area.
 6. The display apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the second area is disposed under the first area whenthe folding area is folded.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of pixels disposed on the first area, wherein thefirst area comprises: a display area in which the pixels are disposed;and a non-display area adjacent to the display area.
 8. The displayapparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a thin film encapsulationlayer disposed in the display area and a portion of the non-display areato cover the pixels; a touch sensing unit disposed on the thin filmencapsulation layer; and a window disposed on the touch sensing unit. 9.The display apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a scan driverdisposed in the non-display area and connected to the pixels through aplurality of scan lines; an emission driver disposed in the non-displayarea and connected to the pixels through a plurality of emission lines;and a data driver disposed in the second area and connected to thepixels through a plurality of data lines.
 10. The display apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the folding area extends in a first direction, and thefirst area, the second area, and the folding area are arranged in asecond direction crossing the first direction.
 11. The display apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a plurality of support units disposed ona portion of the cover member overlapping the folding area.
 12. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the support units has athickness smaller than a thickness of the first protection member. 13.The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the support units aredisposed on the cover member in a single layer and contact each other.14. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the support units aredisposed on the cover member in a single layer and are spaced apart fromeach other.
 15. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising aplurality of support units disposed under a portion of the dummy filmoverlapping the folding area.
 16. The display apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a support member disposed under a portion of thecover member overlapping the folding area.
 17. The display apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein a plurality of slits is provided in an upper surfaceof the support member, and a lower surface of the support member has aconvex curved surface projected away from the upper surface of thesupport member.
 18. The display apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising: a sub-cover member disposed under the second protectionmember.
 19. A display apparatus, comprising: a substrate including afirst area, a second area, and a bending area between the first area andthe second area; a protection member disposed under the substrate andhaving at least one opening over lapping the bending area; a supportmember disposed under the substrate and having a plurality of slitsoverlapping the bending area; and a cover member disposed the protectionmember and the support member and covering the plurality of slits,wherein the plurality of slits are provided in an upper surface of thesupport member and not provided in a lower surface of the supportmember.
 20. The display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the lower surfaceof the support member has a convex curved surface projected away fromthe upper surface of the support member.
 21. A display apparatus,comprising: a substrate comprising a first area, a second area, and afolding area between the first area and the second area; a firstprotection member disposed under the substrate and having a plurality offirst openings overlapping the folding area; a second protection memberdisposed under the first protection member and having at least onesecond opening overlapping the folding area; a cover member disposedbetween the first protection member and the second protection member andcovering the plurality of first openings, wherein the first openings arefully covered by the substrate and the cover member.